Machine for the production of cinematograph and other films



1931- J E. THORNTON 1,834,355 MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CINEMATOGRAPH AND OTHER FILMS Filed May 28. 1.929 4 Sheets-S asses k Dec. 1, 1931. .1. E. THORNTON 1,834,355

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CINEMATOGRAPH AND OTHER FILMS Filed May 28, 1929' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTOR.

Dec. 1, 1931. J. E. THORNTON MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CINEMATOGRAPH AND OTHER FILMS Filed May 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 1, 1931. J, THORNTON 1,834,355

MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CINEMATOGRAPH AND OTHER FILMS Filed May 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR strips; for automatically placing such images A to and accurately transparent film,

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, or sr. BRELADE, JERsEY, CHANNEL IsLANDs MAcHiNE FOR THE PRODUCTION or cIN'EMAToGRArH AND OTHER FILMS Application filed May 28, 1929, Serial No. 366,743, and in Great Britain June 21, 1928.

This invention relates to an improved form of apparatus for impressing'and transferring multi-color component images on to ,cin'ematographic or other continuous film- 111 accurate register one with the other upon the'strip; and for adding a series of traction perforations in the film-strip after the images have been impressed or transferred strip. i i It is applicable in the manufacture of filmpositives which are suchas described in fication Serial N o. 354,714;

It is also applicable in the manufacture of film positives which are produced by trans ferring gelatine relief images from temporary supports of paper on to'a permanent support of transparent film, such as in specification Serial N 0. 354,715.

In films produced according to the above mentioned specification Serial N 0, 354,714 by photo-mechanical or imbibition printing processes, the pictures are printed by contact, the prints in bot-h'methods of printing being formed on a blank unperforated film strip,

described and the prints in 354,715 which are formed in sensitized and developed gelatine as reliefs, a number of pictures at a time as a strip, so that a number are in contact and being printed or transferred simultaneously. This renders it impossible when printing toregister each picture separately by coincident perforations in both films, as is done when printing sensitized films step by step one pic,- ture at a'time in the usual way.

The machine a'ccording'to the present invention for'carrying out the printing process necessary for producing the films in the above mentioned specifications comprises the following features in combination:

(1) A series of pressure rolls carried by a fixed frame and simultaneously driven in unison at the same surface speed'by suitable gearing. v (2) A second series of pressure rolls car-v ried by a movable or floating frame in such a manner that each floating rollis' opposite registered upon the filmproduced by photo mef chanical printing from printing belts on to s ed-I in unison Without speed as the non-floating rolls.

to press the series of floating rolls against the series of fixed rolls so that uniform pressure contact is maintained against movingfilms' passing between the rolls and printing belts and which may be of variable thickness.

(a) Suitable gearing to connect the driving'shaft of the fixed rolls with the driving shaft of thefioating rolls to interlock with both and ensure that both sets of rolls rotate backlash.

When the machine is constructed for producing two-images on opposite sides of siiigle wicltli or a, double-width film by photomechanical or imbibition processes it is also constructed with:

5 A air of re isterin sor'ockets laced" P e c l P the entrance to the these sprockets being inter opposite each other at pressure rollers, geared or interlocked to rotate in unison without backlash and having their teeth engaging with theregistering perforations of the printing belts so that two cliche-images are 3) lVeighted levers or equivalent devices same surface a simultaneously registered exactly opposite each other on opposite sides of the film before passing between the pressure rolls.

In a machine for transferring two colloid images on to opposite sides of asingle width unper orated'blank film strip from two image carrying bands such as paper or other temporary supports or belts the machine is also provided with (6) Means for supporting, carrying and driving the two rolls of transfer paper; (7) Means for applyinga moistening fluid to both sides of the non-perforated blank film before it enters the pressure rolls. A

(8) Means for feeding and passingthe multiple cemented strip afterleaving the pressing rolls through a drying chamber and/or through developing apparatus.

In all the different forms perforating apparatus may be arranged to perforate the film after leaving'the pressure rolls. Where the machine is constructed for transferring two colloid images on to opposite sides of a single width unperforated blank film strip from two temporary paper supports the perforations are made through three thicknesses-one film and two paper if perforated immediately after leaving the pressure rolls. This can be avoided if desired by omitting the perforating at this stage and applying visual perforations after development of the film.

The invention will be described with ref.- erence to -the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of machine for printing simultaneously by photo-mechanical or imbibition process upon opposite sides of a transparent film a pair of component im ages of two different colors without sensitizing and without light to produce the film forming the subject of specification Serial No. 35mm.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of machine for the production of a continuous film-positive of two colors by means of a central support of film material on to opposite sides of which component images of difierent colors are from two tempotransferred and cemented rary supports of porous paper or rial to produce the film forming of specification Serial No. 354:,715.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of machine for the production of a continuous film positive by photo-mechanical or imbibition printing process on one side of a single-width film or printing two component images side by side on one side of a double width film.

Fig. f is a sectional view of the gearing for the sprocket wheels and pressure rolls applicable to any of the machines shown in other mate- Fig. 1, Fig. 2 or Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detall view of registering sprocket.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of drive for same.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modified form of registering sprockets applicable to either of the machines shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of perforating mechanism.

The machine shown in Fig. 1 which previously stated is particularly applicable for production of the continuous film strips forming the subject of specification Serial No. 354,714: comprises a fixed frame A carrying a number of rollers A arranged vertically one above the other and a movable or floating frame B carrying a corresponding number of rollers B The floating frame B is mounted on bearing rods or supports 1) so that it can movelaterally and is controlled by the two pivoted bell crank levers G which carry adjustable weights W to maintain uniform pressure between the rollers A and B even though the film strip 1 and the printing belts 2 and 3 passing between the rollers should vary in thickness which variation might be from of an inch.

1 3 1000 to wet the subject Above the top rollers of the series A and. B are arranged two sprocket wheels D D arranged a little distance apart and having their teeth (Z spaced to correspond exactly with the spacing of the registration perforations in the printing belts 2 and 3. The printing belts 2 and 3 are held down on to the teeth (Z of the sprocket wheels 1) and D by the weighted pivoted levers (Z and d which carry flanged rollers (Z the flanges of which press on to the margin surfaces of the belts between the sprockets thereby holding the belts down to the root of the teeth and keeping them quite taut.

The two sprocket wheels D D are driven from a common shaft and are geared together by the gear wheels 0 a so that the wheels D D will rotate in unison without there being any backlash between them, thereby procuring the exact register of the twobelts 2 and 3 which is necessary for the printing of the two component images onopposite sides of the film 1 so tl at the two images may exactly coincide on the finished film.

Each of the rollers A and B is also positively driven (see Fig. l) by skew gearing c from the vertical shafts E and E The shaftFi is driven through bevel or other suitable gear a from the shaft carrying the sprocket wheel D and the sh aft E is driven by similar gear 6 from the shaft carrying the sprocket wheel D Thus the sprocket wheels D and D and. the rollers A and B are all geared together and are driven I that after the belts 1 and 2 have been accurately registered by the sprockets they will remain in such accurate register until they and the film emerge from the last pair of rollers at the end of the printing operation.

The roll of non-perforated film 1 is carried in an idle spool F mounted on a stand 7 above the sprockets D and D and is led down between the sprockets so that the two printing belts 2 and 3 are pressed into contact therewith as the three bands enter the nip of the first pair of rollers A B After emerging from the series of pressure rollers A B the printing belts 2 and 3 pass over tractor sprocket wheels G being kept in contact therewith by weighted rollers g and then pass over and under the rollers h of the dyeing apparatus H any or all of which rollers are positively driven. The belt leaves the dyeing apparatus between the rollers h and 72/ which serve to remove the surplusdye from the belt. The belts 2 and 3 then pass up and down over the rollers H before passing back to the sprocket D arranged immediately in sponding registration sprocket D or D The sprocket wheels G, the rollers 71 of the dyeing apparatus H and the sprockets D are all preferably driven through gearing from the main driving shaft so that they all rotate atthe same surface speed, so

front of the correinunison with and at the same surface speed a, as the registration sprockets D 'and-D'? and j the pressing rollers A and B '1 The printed film 1 after leaving the last pair of pressing rollers A and "B passes through the perforating apparatus J, a loop being formed in the film between the rollers andthe perforation to permit of compensa-" tions in the positions of-the perforations." vThe perforator J is preferably of the'eccentr-icplunger type driven through gearing j from the shaft E which drives the rollers A An exhaust fan- J may be arranged to" remove the perforated pieces and dust-from the'film.- Q P The positioning of the perforations is governed by the pilot feed-claw J which draws the film 1 through the perforat'or.- The feed" claw J is reciprocated by the eccentric j.

I driven by gearing'from the shaft E and is moved up and downto draw forward the film through the link and lever mechanism 7' After being perforated the film 1' passes over the sprocket K to the finishing bath [a c where it is treated'wi-th hardening, fiexing or varnishing agents. The'film thenpasse's through the drying chamber k being led up and down therein over'the rollers'k ar-q ranged at the'top ,and'botto'm. The drying chamber is supplied 'with hot air whichenters at the bottom through the pipe 70 and after absorbing moisture froirithefilm' leaves the chamber through the outlet pipe 702 at the taper the chamber; or it may enter at";

the top=andexhaustfrom the bottom. 4 Y

, The finished film after passing through the a drying chamber K is finally wound-on to the reel or spool K Y r A modification ofthesprocket registering" device for the belts 2 and 3 is shown'in 7 which arrangement is however only applicable where the belts are of greater width than the film 1 and have their'perforations in the marginsoutside the film." In this arrangement the teeth d of one sprocket D fit into holes (Z in the other sprocket D and the teeth (Z of the sprocket D fit into'holes (Z in the sprocket D -Therefore each alternate tooth passes through the perforations of bothbelts, the nonperforated'blank film;

laying between and missed by thevteeth. This arrangement ensures accurate vregister of the two belts, but in manycases is notias convenient an arrangement for obtaining accurate register as the arrangement described above with reference to Fig. 1. I g

The machine shown in Fig. 3, which is applicable for printing on one side of a single width film ora double width film, is of simi- 'lar construct-ionto that shown in Fig. l'with' the exception that as there isonly one print ing belt'it is only necessary to provide one dyeing apparatus and one path'for thepasf sage of the film back to the feed sprocket D 'When-the' film is-single-width only one dyeing app'aratusis used. But where the film isof double width with two 'rows of image'sof different color a double-width or duplex dyeing apparatus is used with two sets of rolls for applying dyes of two different colors side by side; r

The machine shown in Fig; 2 is constructed for the transfer-of two gelatine images from their two perforated supports 2 and 3 referabl of orous aper on to the con- P y P P t nuous non-perforated film stripl. The

machine comprises a'fixed frame A carrying avnum-b'er of rollers-A arranged vert cally one above the other and a movable or floating frame B carrying a corresponding number of rollers B The floating frame Bis mounted on bearing rods or supports 72' so that it can. move laterally and is controlled byfthe two pivoted bell'crank levers G which carry adjustable weights N to maintain pressure between the rollers A and B even though the film; strip 1 r and the temporary supports 2 and 3 passing between the roll-- ersshould vary in thickness, whi'chvariation might :befrom arranged a little distance" apartand having 5 to f an inch -Above th-e'to-p rollers of the series A and B? are arranged. two i sprocket wheels D D their teeth Z spaced to correspond exactly" with thespaeing of the registration perforations in the temporary supports 2 and 3 The temporary supports 2 and 3 are held down on to the teeth 0? of the sprocket wheels '1)? and?) by the weighted pivoted levers (Z l and 0Z which carry flanged rollers d the flanges of which press on to the margin surfaces o-fthe supports between the sprockets" thereby holding the supports downto the root of th'e teeth and keepingthem quite Each of the rollers A and B is also posi V tively driven (see Fig. 4) by'skew gearing e r i from t-he'vertical shafts and E The shaft E is driven through bevel, helical or other suitable gear 6 from the shaft carry- I ing the sprocket wheel I) and the shaft E is driven by similar gear 6 from the shaft carrying the sprocket wheel D Thus the,

sprocl-tet Wheels 'D and D 'and' the rollers A and B are all geared together and are driven at the-same surface: speed sothatafterthe supports 2 and 3 have beenaccurately registered by the sprockets they" will remain in r such accurate register untilthey andv the film (ill 1 emerge from the lastpair of rollers at the end of the printing'operation.

The non-perforated transparent I film 1 which has a dry substratum on eachface is drawn off from the roll F carried on the stand F at one side of the maclnne. The stand F pressure rollers A and B between the temporary supports 2 and 3" as the latter leave the registering sprockets D and D The temporary supports 2 and 3 are drawn forward off the rolls L -and L by the sprockets D and D and as described above are accurately registered upon these sprockets.

The film 1 and the supports 2 and 3 are squeezed together as they pass downbetween the pressure rollers A and B so that the dry gelatine images on the supports become firm- .ly cemented to the damp gelatine substratums on the film.

The triple band at formed by the two supports 2 and 3 with the film 1 cemented between them after emerging from the pressing rollers guided by the guide rollers (0 a to the drying chamber K being led up and down therein over the rollers 70 arranged at the top and bottom. The drying chamber is supplied with hot air which enters at the bot- ,tom through the pipe 10 and after absorb ing moisture from the film leaves the chamber through the outlet pipe 70 at the top of the chamber or vice versa.

A perforating apparatus J preferably of the eccentric plunger type is arranged to perforate the triple band 4: after leaving; the drying chamber K The perforator J- prefferably works in conjunction with an exhaust fan J which removes the perforated pieces and dust from the film.

The positioning of the perforations is governed by the pilot feed claw J which draws the band 4: through the perforator. The feed claw J is reciprocated by the eccentric f to draw forward the band a.

If desired.- the perforating apparatus J. may be omitted, in which case however a visual personal control method of perforating must be applied to the finishedfilm after developing and drying.

A developing bath M is arranged to receive the triple band l; after leaving the perforator J (or after leaving the drying chamber K if the perforator J is omitted). The developing bath M is of similar construction to the apparatus described in my specification Serial No. 263,858, filed March 22, 1928. t comprises two tanks M M supplied'with hot water from a pump N through pipes 72,. n? the water being exhausted by a pump N through-pipes n n 1. The band 4 passes over a guide roller to thetank M wherein it passesv between driven upper rollersv m and round 1 idle l lower rollersv m Mostof the soluble colloid is removed from the filmin this bath, from whichthe band passes between rollers l 3 and over guide roller 1 f to the tanlcll/I through which it is similarly driven, and wherein. it is treated with hot. water bysprays N fed, from the pump N After leaving-the tank M the band is first passed: over rollers N wh ch guide it-between spraysN- by apump O with hardening and flexing liquids.- The temporary supports 2 and 3 are loosened by the action of thebathM and are stripped off by the guide rollers M so that the film 1- alone passes-tothe second bath M so that the developingprocess started iirtlie first bath is completed in the second bath by final removal of allremaining surplus colloid.

A.v final drying chamber P is arranged to dry. the film 1 .after it hasrbeen developed and treated withhardening, flexing, or varnish: ing, material. The dryingchamber P is, of similar construction to the chamber K previously described, being-provided with rollers p at the top and bottom over which the film passes andwith an. inlet p at. the bottom for the heated drying airand an outlet, 10 at the top for the air after it has removed the moisture from the film or vice, versa.

The reelPl on to which the finished film 1 is wound after leaving the drying chamber P is carried in thesame frame P? which supports the chamber P.

Any number of rollers can ,be employed and if desired these can be carried in a. number of separate shorter frames instead of in one long frame as shown, and the machine can therefore be built much higher than shown in the drawings in order to increase the length of travel of the bands under contact.

Although in-the preceding description the different forms of the machine are all described withthe pressure rollers A and B arranged vertically one'above the other, they may if: desired be arranged, horizontally so that. the film andv belts or supports travel between them in a horizontaldirection the loop carriers being arranged either horizontally or vertically, but preferably vertically .as in the drawings.

By'duplicatingthe apparatus by provision of two additional printing belts and'an additional set of registering drums, pressure drums, and sprocket drums, all geared up to the first set, so that really two machines are combined into one, it becomes possible to print and accurately register a second pair of images of different colors over and superimposed upon, the first pair of. images. In this way a picture of four colors canbe produced,,two component images upon: one side,

- each of a different color.

Thefirst print is made upon a surface of atransparent film which hasfir'st been prepared by a suitable coating'which whendry will readily absorb or cause to be easily transferred by precipitation or by mechanical transfer alone the inks or dyes from the printing belt on to the film; This maybe a dilute solution of cellulose-such as cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate; or it may be mixture of cellulose and colloid, suchas cellulose acetate and gelatine in acommon solvent; or it may be a simple colloid solution such as gelat-ine, glue, albumen, or the like, or a mixture thereof; and with either of these solutions is incorporated any suitable agent that will assist the transfer of the colored inks or dyes from printing belt to film, for example in some casesv a mordant is used,'in others a hardening agent and in others a hygroscopic agent.

In multi-color printing, after the first print has been applied to the film and before'the' second print is superimposed thereon, a similar coating of the varnish preparation is applied to the film over the first print, thus providing the printed film with a suitablereceptive surface to take the second print.

This varnishing layer is applied to the printed film after it leaves the first section of the machine and before it enters the second section, and it may be applied by any suitable known form of coating device, such as a spray, a ductor roller fed from a trough, or an inclined weir supplied by a ductor roller revolving in a trough, or by a slotted tube, or by a slotted trough and a regulating scraper knife, according to the nature and consistency of the varnishing mixture. After receiving this coating the film passes through suitable drying apparatus, such as a blast of heated air or over electrically heated or gas heated or steam heated rolls or flat tables; or through a drying room.

What- I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A machine for producing a seriesof positive images upon a continuous strip of cinematograph or other film by photo-mechanical or imbibition printinmor bytransfer of colloid images thereto. from photo-mechanical printing belts or temporary paper supports. comprising in its construction a series of pressure rolls, st ti onary frame upon which the pressure rolls are mounted and 'a shaft and gearing by which the rolls are driven in unisonat the same surface speed, a second series of pressure rolls, a movable frame upon which the rolls are monntedarranged with each roll of said second series opposite a roll in the first series and shaft and gearing for driving the second series of rolls in unison at the same surface speed, weighted levers to press the second series of rolls,

against the first series to "sure contact and 'ing shaft of the cinematograph "ingrolls that both sets of rolls rotate in unison with out backlash; a pair ofperforated image car rying ban ds passing between the two 'seriesof give uniform presgearing connecting the drivfixed rollswith the driving shaft of the floating rolls, to interlock with both and ensure ta'te in unison without backlash. 2-; A machine for producing a series of'positive images upon a continuous strip of cinematograph or other film by photo mechanical or imbibition printing, or by transfer of colloidimages thereto, from photo-mechanicalprinting belts or temporary paper supports, comprlslng n 1ts constructlona series of pressure rolls, a stationary frame upon "which the pressure rolls are mounted and av shaft and gearing by which the rolls are driven in unison at the same surface speed, a second series of pressure rolls, a movable, frame upon which the rolls are mounted arranged with each roll of said second series opposite a roll in the first series and a shaft and gearing for driving the second series of rolls in unison" at the samesurface speed, weighted levers to press the second serles of rolls, against the first series to give a uniform pressure contact, gearing connecting the driving shaft of the fixed rolls with the drlving shaft of the floating rolls, to interlock with both and ensurethatboth sets of rolls rotate in'unison without backlash, a pair of image carrying bands passing between the two series of rollers 21 pair of registering sprockets placed'opposite each other at the entrance to the pressure rolls, teeth on the'sprockfets,*the teeth engaging with the re'gistering "perforations'of the pair of the image carrying bands in such a imagesare simultaneously registered exactly manner that two cliche opposite each other 'andithen squeezed by the rolls against opposite'sides of the film '3. A-rmachine for-producinga series of positive images upon a continuous stripfof movable frame upon whichthe rolls are mount-ed arranged with each roll of said secondseries'opposite a roll in the first series and shaft and gearing for driving the second series of rolls in unison at the same surface speed, weighted levers to press the second series of rolls against the first series to 'give'a uniform j-pressure contact,"

gearing connecting the driving shaft of the fixed-rolls with the driving'shaftof the'fioatto interlock withboth and 1 ensure that both sets of 'rolls ro-v or other film by 'photoimbibition printing, from delivery sprockets sure rolls, gearing rollers, a pair of registering sprockets placed opposite each other at the entrance to the pressure rolls and teeth on the sprockets, the teeth engaging with the registering perforations of the pair of the image carrying bands in such manner that two cliche images are simultaneously registered exactly opposite eachother and then squeezed by the rolls against opposite sides of the film, a pair of at the exit from the presfor driving the registering and delivery sprockets, a weighted cradle pressing upon each registering sprocket to retain the perforated belts in accurate engagement with the teeth thereof, means for supporting, carrying, and 'moving the two image carrying bands. means for applying transfer fluid to each image carrying band after it emerges from and before it re-enters the pressure rolls and means for supporting and feeding forward the blank strip.

4. A machine for producing a series of positive images as in claim 3 and means for perforating the film with a series of traction perforations.

5. A machine for producing a series of positive images as in claim 3 with means for perforating the film with a series of traction perforations. a drying chamber through which the film is passed. an air inlet and outlet to the chambenmeans for feeding and assing the printed film through the chamber and means for reeling the strip on emerginsr therefrom.

'6. A machine 'for producing a series of positive images as in'claim 3 with means for perforating the film with a series of traction perforations, a drying chamber through which the film is passed. an air inlet and outlet to the chamben'means for feeding and 'rpassinor the printed film through the chamber. means for reeling the strip on emerging therefrom. and means for coatin g, varnishing and otherwise treating the strip during its passage from the machine to the drying chamber.

7. A machine for producing a series'of pos- .itive images upon a continuous strip of cinematograph or other film by photo-mechanical or imbibition printing. or by transfer of colloid imaoresthereto. from photo-mechanical printing belts or temporary paper supports. comprising in its construction a series of pressure rolls, a stationary frame upon which the pressure rolls are mounted and a shaft and gearing by which the rolls are driven in unison at the same. surface speed, a second series of pressure rolls, a movable frame upon which the rolls are mounted arranged with eachroll of said second series opposite, a roll in the firstseries and shaft and gearing for drlving the second serles of rolls in unlcontact, gearing connecting the driving shaft of the fixed rolls with the driving shaft of the floating rolls, and a pair of perforated image carrying bands of greater width than the film-strip passing between the two series of rollers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN EDWARD THORNTON.

7 son at the same surface speed, weighted levers V to press the second series of rollsyagainst the first series to glve a uniform pressure 

